Big Church Blues In The Lehigh Valley

An article in the Morning Call about the large Bethlehem First Presbyterian congregation no longer being able to afford its campus caught my attention. Recently, a member of the Allentown's First Presbyterian on Cedar Crest and Tilghman mentioned that they are having the same dilemma.

As neighborhood center city churches in both towns became passé because of changing demographics and lack of parking, those congregations consolidated, and the mega structures were built. Now that attendance has declined, the infrastructure demands exceed the current dues.

Both congregations want to end up with a right size church, with an affordable overhead. Shown above is an old photograph of a synagogue in Coney Island,NYC. Although I don't know its fate, I know that many churches in downtown Allentown now house dominations and faiths different from their original congregations.

Allentown's First Presbyterian began on 5th Street, part of the current Art Museum. That Museum now wants to move to the Reilly Art's District at 10th & Hamilton. Maybe they should reflect on the long term success of such moves.

An Alternative to Career Politicians

Mike Schlossberg has been in the State House way too long. Fresh out of college, he interned for Jenn Mann (who was there way too long), then moved into the seat when she retired to become a lobbyist. (He also had a short stint with the Chamber of Commerce, but no real world experience.)  Mann is the local Democratic kingpin, and Schlossberg a main pony in the stable.

Mike actually got caught ghost voting years ago, but the scrutiny never moved beyond the local blogs. While state senator Jarrett Coleman has been trying to hold the NIZ accountable, Schlossberg and Schweyer have been missing in that quest.

Caren Lowrey of South Whitehall has stepped forward to challenge Schlossberg and the entrenched status quo. While those opposed to the Atlas Data Center across from Parkland High School have seen her in action, most voters in the 132nd District have yet to realize what an option they finally have against the same old, same old Harrisburg game.

Lowrey participated in a comprehensive recorded interview with Moshe Kurtz

Commercial Ad Hawking My Booklet

The other week I set up a table at a local flea market. I was there early in the morning for a couple of hours, and managed to pay the rent by selling a well respected history of Allentown. It's a slick book, a well done production featuring photos of places mostly before my time, and Allentown postcards from yesteryear.

My booklet is not a slick production, and consists of 36 posts from growing up in Allentown in the 1950's.  All the posts are from this blog, so you could assemble it yourself with a printer and stapler. If you're a fellow baby boomer, I think it might bring you a smile or two. I suppose it might be somewhat male orientated, with several posts about the long freight trains that we had to wait for in several areas of Allentown.

In addition to force feeding my blog audience with this advertisement, I will also post it on Allentown Chronicles, a local Facebook group. Those interested in purchase can CLICK HERE to the Amazon bookstore.

New Square For Old Problems

I spent a couple hours last week on Hamilton Street. With the square at 7th and Hamilton being reconfigured, both driving and walking were burdensome and dangerous. Of course the real danger is a couple blocks away, in either direction.*

The denizens don't care about the new square. The prized citizens farther west, the ones we're trying lure into center city, also don't care about the new square. They aren't coming, regardless of what building you move where.

On Sunday night I was in Bethlehem. I had to drive blocks beyond my destination to find a parking space. At no time did I feel intimidated by denizens or surroundings. No new construction there, just history and quaintness. Allentown traded its history for the NIZ, and it doubles down with nonsense plans like the new square and moving the art museum.

*Allentown experienced two fatal shootings Tuesday evening. In both cases the suspect was apprehended.

shown above one block beyond the NIZ

CLICK HERE FOR MY BABY BOOMER MEMORIES OF ALLENTOWN AT AMAZON BOOKSTORE....  36 SELECTED POSTS FROM THIS BLOG.

Shapiro Rules Pennsylvania, Or Name That Woman

I'm not a Josh Shapiro fan, but according to polls, 25% of voters don't know who his opponent is for the upcoming election. With those statistics, far be it from me to even mention her name. But I will take the Republican Party to task for poor job they're doing, or perhaps better said, the job they're not doing.

Perpetual candidate Mark Pinsley is running head and head with Jarrett Coleman, a state senator doing an excellent job. Bob Brooks is running ahead of incumbent Ryan Mackenzie.

Readers of this blog know that I believe that they can credit Donald Trump with the Democratic prospects for a good November. Those like the Republican candidate for governor who promotes herself with MAGA will lose bigly.

Vance Learning To Dance

Right leaning pundits and their followers are trying to portray Vance as polishing Trump's statements, to help both the party in the midterms, and himself for 2028. Trump's rants, becoming more unglued day by day, make repairs difficult.

It is one thing to be a press secretary and justify babble, it is another if you want to remain a potential candidate viable for a political future. While J.D. can jittererbug for another five weeks, expect another song and dance starting on November 4th.

If the blue wave is as high as many predict, the survivors will have to change their tune drastically for 2028. For Vance, just being Trump's VP will be a stain enough. His polishing will no longer due, and he'll have to respectfully disagree.

CLICK HERE FOR MY BABY BOOMER MEMORIES OF ALLENTOWN AT AMAZON BOOKSTORE.... 36 SELECTED POSTS FROM THIS BLOG

The Expense Of Trump's Rants

Trump's slush fund will spend hundreds of $millions on what he calls fake media sites to try and compensate for his ramblings.  With the midterms only five weeks away, and Trump's rating the lowest of a sitting president in thirty five years, it should be a banner years for political ads.

The list of Republican candidates disagreeing with Trump, especially in regard to the war with Iran, grows as I type. Locally, so far Mackenzie is still going down with the ship, but we'll see if his tune changes.

On the topic of change, although I'm still printing anonymous comments if they contribute enough to the dialogue, more and more of them are being rejected.

CLICK HERE FOR MY BABY BOOMER MEMORIES OF ALLENTOWN AT AMAZON BOOKSTORE....   36 SELECTED POSTS FROM THIS BLOG